Light-restricting device



J. B. yBAR-row LIGHT-RESTRICTING DEVVICE Filed oct.f 2:5, 1943 2Sheets-sheet z i I |\37 zo 'J3 F75 if I Z6 l .Y "u [1l Il' l 46 l Z9 5L'I .um 6 f7/.5A .Baak w Patented June 19, 1945 LIGHT-RESTRICTING DEVICEJohn B. Bartow, Blue Bell, Pa., assignor to Bartow Beacons, Inc.,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Y Application October23, 1943, Serial No. 507,446

(Cl. 24U-1.2)

Claims.

This invention relates to a'novel light-restricting device for use witha lamp unit, and more particularly to a device for use with a groundlamp unit mounted for depressiveA detachment from its support, such asthat disclosed and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 2,332,362, grantedOctober 19, 1943.

The. principal object of this invention is toprovide a simple andeillcient light-restricting device having the structural featuresdescribed hereinafter. k

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel light-restrictingdevice for use with a lamp unit mounting of the character disclosed inthe aforementioned patent.

A further object of the invention is to provide a light-restrictingdevice comprising a hood structure and a visor removably secured theretoso as to be detachable by a jarring force, whereby the device isparticularly adapted for use with a lamp unit mounting of the`above-mentoneid character, as. described more fullyfhereinafter.

A still further objectl of the invention is t'V provide alight-restricting device of the statedcharacter whch is adjustable topermit light projection in a selected one of a plurality of directions.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter, comprising an opaque hood adapted to fit overa lamp unit andhaving angularly spaced openings or windows therein, an opaque collar orring rotataby mounted on the hood and having an opening or window whichis alignable with a selected one of the firstmentioned openings, and avisor removably seof the .elements forming the device of the presentinvention; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectionalv view of the assem'v bled device. v

Referring rst to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a ground lampunit designated generallyV by reference character i which is detachablysupported by a resilient (e. g. rubber) dome-shaped or concavo-'convexmember 2 which, in turn, is mounted in association with a resilient sump3 arranged to receive the lamp unit l in the event of its depressivedetachment from the resilient support member 2. Such a lamp mounting isdisclosed and claimed in the aforementioned patent, and it isparticularly intended for use as a runway or other marker on an aireldor air-port, but is capable of other uses, for ex;- ample it may be usedas a marker on streets or highways.

Considering the"v lamp mounting in greater detail, there is provided ametal sump Il, which is adapted to be disposed below the ground levelindicated at 5, and which serves to house any current supply equipment,such as a trans--4 former, which may be employed. A retaining ring 6serves to hold the inner resilient sump 3 in the manner shown, and alsoserves to retain the resilient mounting member 2 in place. The lamp unitl comprises a resilient support member or ring l to which isaiilxed aplate 8 carrying the lamp il and its socket I0. The support memberl'also carries a dome-shaped lens or lamp enclosure Il.

The lamp unit assembly is detachably mounted on the resilient supportmember 2' by means of annular lips l2 and I3 formed on member 1, whichembrace the inner edge of the annulus 2. The intertting portions ofmembers 2 and 1 are so formed that the ring 'l may be inserted from thebottom, and it is readily detachable in this direction. To this end,thelip l2 is relatively thin as illustrated. The purpose of. this to enablethe entire lamp assembly to detachitseli and tion will sufiice for thepresent purpose and will enable a clear understanding of the presentinvention now to be described. Any further details of the lamp unitmounting which may be vdesired may be obtained by reference to 'the saidpatent.

By th'e present invention,

there is provided a l visor I1 detachably carried by the collar I6.

opening 34. Thislug with lugs 26-21 on hood I5 to x the tively alignedwith the openings 25 in the hood when' the collar is in either one ofits operative positions.

i The collar I6 carries a pair of resilient fingers 384-39 which extendoutwardl on opposite sides of the window 34. These elements may compriseresilient strips affixed to the collarjas shown in opaque collar orringl thereon, and an opaque The device of the present invention may bemore clearly understood by reference to Figs. 2 to 6. The hood I5 isclearly shown in Fig. 5 and comprises a cylindrical portion I8, a lowerflange portion I9, and an upper dome portion 20. Further, the hood isformed so as to provide shoulder portionsZI and 22 (see Fig. 6) to seatthe rotatable collar or ringA I6, as hereinafter described. A

` pair.of diametrically spaced elongated windows 23`and 24 are providedin the cylindrical portion I8. These windows may simply compriseslotlike openings, 'as illustrated. In addition, the

hood-is preferably provided with a series of small Aslit openings 25,the purpose of which will be v -explained presently. A pair of spacedlugs 26 and 21 (see Figs. 2 and 5) are also provided on the lcylindricalportion I8'of the hood. As shown in Fig. 1, the hood is adapted to seatuponl member 1 of the lamp unit or assembly I, and in order to fix theposition of the hood in a predetermined positionv and to prevent, itsrotation, there are preferably provided one or more recesses 28 in itsseating flange I9, and these recesses may cooperate with correspondingprojections on member 'I (not visible). It isessential, of course, thatthe hood be fixed -in position inl order that the light Fig. 4. Theextending ngers project outward only a small distance and they areprovided with inward indentations 40-4 I. The purpose of these fingersis to removably hold the visor I1 which has indented portions 42-43 toreceive the indentations of the. said fingers. Thus when the indentedportions of the visor are inserted between the resilient ngers 38 and39, the visor is held in place on the collar I6. It will be noted,however, that by virtue of the manner in which the visor is removablyheld, it is readily detachable from the collar by any appreciablejarring force.

The purpose of the visor is, of course, to control the emittedlight-particularly to prevent upward projection of the light. The visorpreferably comprises an inverted U-shaped shell or cover 44, a frontwall 45 secured therein and liaving an elongated Window or opening 46, abottom wall 41 (see Fig. 6) also secured within the shelly ever,'theparticular structure of the visor is relawill be projected in thedesired direction. Furthermore, the hood is preferably provided on itsinside'with resilient 'spring elements 29, which snugly engage the lampenclosure or dome Il, asshown inFig. 1. v

Referring particularly to Figs.

portions, respectively, which seat upon the shoull 4 and' 6, the collaror ring .I6 is adapted to fit over the cylindrical portion IB of thehood and has inwardlyextending anges 30 and 3I at its bottom and 4topders 2l and 22, respectively, of the hood.- A pair of recesses 32' and33 in the lower flange 30 are located in correspondence to the lugs 26and 21 on the hood, so that the collar I6 may be placed on the hood I5by aligning the recesses 32-33 With the 'lugs 26-21. Thereafter, thecollar I6 may be .tively unimportant, as this member may take any formdesired as long as it serves its intended function.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the hood I5 and thecollar I6 cooperatively form a. two-part hood structure, one part ofwhich is adjustable relative to the other part, and the visor isdetachably carried by the composite hood structure. If it were desiredto` project the light in one direction only, the hood structure could beformed as a single part.

Referring now to the use and operation of the light-restricting devicein conjunction with the lamp unit mounting of Fig. 1, the assembleddevice is mounted on the lamp unit as previously described and as shownin Fig. l, with the hood I5 properly located with reference to thedirections in which it is desired to project light. The collar I6,carrying the visor I1, is then rotated to one of its operativepositions, for example as shown in Fig. 2,--to project light in onedirection.

' In the position of the collar shown in Figs. l and rotated and thelugs 2,6--21 cooperate with the flange 30 to retain the collar I6 on thehood I5.

The collar I6 is provided with a window or opening 34 which may bebrought into alignment with either of the openings 23 and 24 in thehood, by rotation of the collar when it is in place on the hood. Alugorstop' 35 (see Fig. 2) is provided on theinside of collar I6 below thewindow or or stop serves cooperatively positionof the collar in eitherofvits operative positions with ,its window 34 in alignment with one orthe other ofthe hood windows 23 and 2li'.A Thus in Fig. 2,

the collar is in such position that the lug or stop 35 abuts against thelug 21, and the proper position of the collar is thus established. Itwill be appreciated, of course, thatthe lug or stop elements 26-21 and35A must be properly located in relationf to. one another to establishthe proper positions of the rotatable collar relative to the iixedhoodThe collar I6 is also preferably provided with rows of small apertures36 and 31 which are selec- 2, the visor is located at the right of thedevice, as viewed, and a limited amount of light from the lamp isprojected through the visor to the right.' In this condition of thedevice, the small apertures .36 in collar I6 are adjacent the apertures25 of the hood'l5, and therefore a small quantity of light is emitted onone side through the said apertures. This is desirable in the case ofrunway lights on an air-eld, but of course the auxiliary apertures maybe eliminated if desired.

When it is desired to project light in the ODDO- site direction, thecollar I6 is rotated clockwise,

as viewed in Fig. 2, until the stop 35 abuts the stop 2B. As previouslydescribed, this places the Window or opening of collar I6 in alignmentwith the window on the opposite side of the hood I5. Since the collar I6will have been rotated through approximately the small apertures 31 willnow be aligned with. the apertures 25 to emit a small quantity ofauxiliary light on the same side of the device as before.

Regardless of the position of the collar I6 and the visor I1, if avehicle wheel or other object should strike the device, the lamp unitand the permitting the lamp unit and the hood structure thereon to passdownward through the opening in member 2 into the sump 3. Wereit not forthe manner in which the visor is mounted which permits ready detachmentof the same, the device would interfere with the depressive detachmentof the lamp unit and the passage of the same downward into the resilientsump. Therefore the manner 0f attachment of the Visor is an importantfeature of the device.

It will be seen that the invention provides a novel device which isparticularly useful in conjunction with a lamp mounting of the characterillustrated. It will be understood, however, that the invention is notlimited to any particular use but may be employedin any instance whereit nds useful application.

The parts of the light-restricting device may be constructed of anysuitable material. Preferably however, they are formed of sheet metalwhich readily lends itself to stamping and cutting operations.

lIt will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited tothe speciiic form of the device illustrated but is capable of variousmodifipass through said opening, said device compris*- ing an opaquehood structure adapted to t over said lamp unit and dimensioned to passthrough said opening while remaining on said lamp unit, said hoodstructure having a light-emitting window therein, a pair of resilientfingers extending horizontally from said hood structure on oppositesides of said window, said'ngers being of short length and being whollywithin the greatest horizontal dimension of the hood 'structure so asnot to obstruct the latters passage through said opening, and a visorremovably held by said ngers adjacent said window so as to be detachablefrom the hood structure upon application of a force depressing said lampunit, whereby the hood-covered lamp unit is permitted to pass throughsaid opening in response to such a force.

cations within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A light-restricting device, comprising an opaque hood adapted to tover a lamp unit, said hood having a peripheral wall with angularlyspaced openings therein, an opaque collar rotatably mounted on said hoodand encircling said peripheral wall, said collar having an openingtherein alignable with a selected one of the openings in said wall byrotation of said collar, a pair of resilient fingers on said collar onopposite sides of its said opening, and a visor removably held hoodstructure adjacent said Window and detachable from the hood structureupon application of a force depressing' said lamp unit, whereby thehood-covered lamp' unit is permitted to pass through said opening inresponse to such a force.

3. A light-restricting device for use with a ground lamp unit detachablymounted within an opening of a' support member andv adapted to 4. Alight-restricting device for vuse with a ground lamp unit detachablymounted within an opening of a support member and adapted to passthrough said opening, said device comprising an opaque hood adapted tofit over said lamp unit and dimensioned to pass through said openingwhile remaining on said lamp unit, said hood having a peripheral wallwith angularly spaced openings therein, an opaque collar rotatablymounted on said hood and encircling said peripheral wall, said collarhaving an opening therein alignable with a selected one of saidlast-named openings by rotation of the collar, a visor, "and meansadapted to secure said visor to said collar so that the" visor isdetachable from the collar upon application of. a force depressing saidlamp unit, whereby the hood-covered lamp` unit is permitted to passthrough the first-mentioned opening in response to such a force.

5. A light-restricting device for use with a ground lamp unit detachablymounted within an opening of a support member and adapted to passthrough said opening, said device comprising an opaque hood adapted tofit over said lamp unit and dimensioned to pass through said openingwhile remaining on said lamp unit, said hood having a peripheral wallVwith angularly spaced openings therein, an opaque collar rotatablymounted on said hood and encircling .said peripheral wall, said collarhaving an opening therein alignable with a selected one of saidlast-named openings by rotation of the collar, a pair of resillent ngersextending horizontally from said collar on opposite sides-of its saidopening, said ngers being of short length and being wholly within thegreatest horizontal dimension of the hood structure so as not toobstruct the latters passage through the inst-mentioned opening, and avisor removably held by said iingers'so as to be detachable from thecollar upon application of a force depressing said lamp unit, wherebythe hood-covered lamp unit is permitted to pass through theErst-mentioned opening inlresponse to such a force.

JOHN B. BARTOW.

